Traffic Violation

April 5, 2004

Dear Madam or Sir:

I am writing to contest my traffic violation, Cit. #03617, dated April 2, 2004.

On the date in question, a gentleman had suspended himself from the Bay Bridge, threatening to commit suicide and hence delaying traffic for several hours. Although I had responsibly left my abode in Davis with an empty bladder and a full tank of gasoline, I found those proportions reversing as I inched forward on the 80. By the time I made it to Oakland, two hours and twenty minutes later, I found myself intimidated by the slew of cars awaiting the toll, and I thought it would be in my best interest to exit in Oakland, re-fill my tank, and proceed to San Francisco via an alternate route.

Although I saw a sign that read "Buses Only" on the right side, I saw another sign a few feet ahead that said "Last Oakland Exit". Thinking that the "Buses Only" referred to the right-most of the two exiting lanes, I opted for the left. It was here that I was pulled over by a smirking pig that really should have had better things to do on this fateful night than punish minor traffic infractions. After receiving the Notice to Appear that I am now contesting, I realized I was deceptively led into thinking this was the last Oakland exit, when, in fact, it was a route into San Francisco that allowed one to by-pass the toll. However, the pig instructed me to jut into the toll lane rather than proceeding on the bus lane. Being the law-abiding law student that I am, I paid the $2 toll after this traumatizing encounter. Talk about adding insult to injury!!

In the event that you cannot dismiss my infraction despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding it, I request that you delay my court date until June, so as not to interfere with my studies during my final examination period.

Sincerely,
LRK